Impact of Infant and Child Mortality on the Fertility Behavior of Muslims of Cuttack District, Odisha

In the present study, infant and child mortality and its effects on fertility were studied among the Muslims of Cuttack district, Odisha. Data for this particular study has been collected from both primary and secondary sources. Secondary sources such as books magazines, and statistical data were referred to and primary data was collected with the help of unstructured interview schedules. Using interview schedules, the data on fertility and related aspects was collected from 250 ever married women (15-64 years of age). It is a common belief that Islam as a religion restricts access to family planning while exhorting their population to have more children. Instead higher fertility seems to be determined by a host of social, cultural, economic and political factors. The study confirms that infant and child mortality have a strong impact on the fertility behaviour among the Muslims of Cuttack district. The results clearly reveal that lower the age at marriage of the mothers greater is the risk of infant mortality. Having got married at an early age they also lack proper knowledge related to conception as well as bearing and rearing of children. Percentage is found to be highest among illiterates. Those who are illiterate are mostly those who belong to a lower class in terms of income and therefore lack better health and medical facilities as well as knowledge of the availability of such benefits. Thus the high level of infant and child mortality has resulted in an increased level of fertility among the Muslims of Cuttack district, Odisha.